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THREE KINGS PROSPECTS APPEAR AT MEMORIAL CUP

by
Staff Writer
/ Los Angeles Kings

BERNIER

CLICHE

McGINNIS

Three Kings prospects played for the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the CHL, comprised of the winning teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

D Ryan McGinnis and the OHL-winning Plymouth Whalers, knocked out the QMJHL-winning Lewiston MAINEiacs, with Kings prospects G Jonathan Bernier and forward Marc-Andre Cliche, with a 5-1 win in the tie breaker on Thursday night.

On Friday night, Plymouth (2-3) lost in the semi-finals, 8-1 to the host Vancouver Giants (3-1). Vancouver will advance to play Medicine Hat for the Memorial Cup on Sunday.

McGinnis, a defenseman that the Kings selected in the sixth round (184th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, scored 6-24=30 in 60 games played this season. The 6-1, 197-pound Michigan native, scored 2-7=9 in 22 post season games, including a goal in a 4-3 loss to Vancouver on May 18, the opener of the Memorial Cup.

Bernier, drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was second in the QMJHL with a 2.58 GAA and a .905 SV% posting a 26-10-0 record and two shut outs during the regular season. At the Memorial Cup, Bernier went 1-2-1 with a 2.07 GAA and a .940 SV%, being named the No. 1 star in three of his four starts.

Cliche, whose rights were obtained by the Kings from the New York Rangers along with forwards Jason Ward and Jan Marek in exchange for Sean Avery and John Seymour on Feb. 5, 2007, scored 24-30=54 in 52 games this season for Lewiston. Cliche is scoreless in one game since the start of the Memorial Cup. Cliche was originally selected by the New York Rangers in the second round, No. 56 overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.